“Home to Roost”On September 26th a new exhibition
will open in Linderman Library called “Home to Roost”:
Ornithological Collections at Lehigh University. The
exhibition opening will be marked by a reception at 4:15 pm
in the Level G gallery, two gallery talks at 5:00 pm in the
Humanities Forum (room 200), and a showing of the recent PBS
documentary on John James Audubon at 6:00 pm for those who
wish to stay. This extensive exhibition will fill cases in
the main Reading Room, the Level G gallery, and the Bayer
Galleria.
|
Red-Shouldered
Hawks Audubon Birds of America plate LVI |
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, Lehigh
University was fortunate to be able to acquire an extensive
collection of natural history books, thanks in large part to
the generosity of Asa Packer, founder of the university.
Including not only John James Audubon’s monumental Birds
of America, but also works by John Gould, Georges Buffon,
and Alexander Wilson, this exhibition will feature examples
of some of the most noteworthy natural history and
scientific art ever produced as ornithology gained ground as
a scientific discipline.
The gallery talks will feature Lois Fischer Black, Curator
of Special Collections, and Barbara C. Malt, Psychology
Professor and Audubon Society officer. Black will introduce
viewers to Audubon’s Birds of America using a volume
of the work and Malt will add perspectives on local bird
populations. Malt co-authored the 2002 edition of Birds
of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity and will also
participate in a booksigning. The PBS documentary, John
James Audubon, Drawn from Nature, is an American Masters
production, a series of specials examining the lives, works,
and creative processes of outstanding cultural artists.
-- Lois Fischer Black
Article posted August
2007
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